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Walton teacher facing official misconduct charge (DOCUMENT)

Published: Monday, January 6, 2014 at 02:11 PM.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A Walton County teacher is facing an official-misconduct charge for allegedly making “disparaging and embarrassing remarks” to a student.

Harriett Hurley, a language arts teacher, is accused of going into another teacher’s classroom Nov. 20 and making comments to a male student related to her “granddaughter and a graded assignment,” stated a Dec. 18 notice from the district.

Hurley also is accused of discussing the incident with other people inside the school’s adult dining room that day.

The next day, Hurley allegedly brought the same student into her classroom to call his parents and discuss “the incident,” the report said. It was not clear from the notice if she was discussing with the parents her alleged remarks or the student’s alleged actions.

Hurley could not be reached for comment.

Florida State Board Rule 6A-5.056 states that Misconduct in Office involves violating both state and district policies including “behavior that disrupts the student’s learning environment; or behavior that reduces the teacher’s ability or his or her colleagues’ ability to effectively perform duties.”

Hurley met with administrators at the beginning of December and “admitted to making an unprofessional decision” but declined to sign the notice when it was presented to her, the notice stated.

In the notice, Superintendent Carlene Anderson recommends the Walton County School Board suspend Hurley for 10 days without pay for her actions. Board members are scheduled to vote on the matter at their Jan. 21 meeting.

Anderson declined to comment.

The results of the district investigation were also forwarded to the Office of Professional Practices, which oversees teaching certificates in the state.

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A Walton County teacher is facing an official-misconduct charge for allegedly making “disparaging and embarrassing remarks” to a student.

Harriett Hurley, a language arts teacher, is accused of going into another teacher’s classroom Nov. 20 and making comments to a male student related to her “granddaughter and a graded assignment,” stated a Dec. 18 notice from the district.

Hurley also is accused of discussing the incident with other people inside the school’s adult dining room that day.

The next day, Hurley allegedly brought the same student into her classroom to call his parents and discuss “the incident,” the report said. It was not clear from the notice if she was discussing with the parents her alleged remarks or the student’s alleged actions.

Hurley could not be reached for comment.

Florida State Board Rule 6A-5.056 states that Misconduct in Office involves violating both state and district policies including “behavior that disrupts the student’s learning environment; or behavior that reduces the teacher’s ability or his or her colleagues’ ability to effectively perform duties.”

Hurley met with administrators at the beginning of December and “admitted to making an unprofessional decision” but declined to sign the notice when it was presented to her, the notice stated.

In the notice, Superintendent Carlene Anderson recommends the Walton County School Board suspend Hurley for 10 days without pay for her actions. Board members are scheduled to vote on the matter at their Jan. 21 meeting.

Anderson declined to comment.

The results of the district investigation were also forwarded to the Office of Professional Practices, which oversees teaching certificates in the state.